EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Chapter 5: Land and Soil Topic Box 5.5 National Planning Framework The National Planning Framework, published in 2018, is Ireland’s top-level statutory land use plan (Government of Ireland, 2018). gov.ie/2040 Project Ireland2040 National Planning Framework It sets out a vision for how Ireland can sustainably accommodate an additional 1 million people by 2040 and grow our economy and society. It commits, where possible, to prioritising the development of brownfield and regeneration areas over greenfield development. It aims to focus growth primarily in our cities, while also supporting focused targeted growth in towns, villages and rural areas. Regarding rural settlement in particular, the National Planning Framework (Policy Objective 18b) committed the government to developing ‘ a programme for new homes in small towns and villages with local authorities, public infrastructure agencies such as Irish Water and local communities to provide serviced sites with appropriate infrastructure to attract people to build their own homes and live in small towns and villages’ (p. 162). Currently, Policy Objective 18b is still to be implemented and needs to be allied to the careful management of rural areas under pressure of random and uncoordinated single-home development; its implementation will be essential to achieving the wider National Planning Framework policy objectives of compact growth and use of brownfield over greenfield development. The Regional Assemblies will implement the National Planning Framework through their regional spatial and economic strategies, which in turn will be implemented through the local authority planning process. This will help ensure that sustainable development is promoted in local and regional authority land use planning. The Office of the Planning Regulator, established in April 2019, is responsible for evaluating and assessing statutory plans made under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Its role includes reviewing development plans and local area plans for consistency with the National Planning Framework, regional spatial and economic strategies, ministerial guidelines and government policies, as well as obligations related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The National Planning Framework also recognises the importance of the maritime economy and seafood sector in sustaining our more remote rural coastal and island communities. Offshore, the National Marine Planning Framework, being prepared by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, will set out a vision of how Ireland will use, protect and enjoy our marine area. It is important that spatial planning, both onshore and offshore, is closely aligned and integrated to ensure that environmentally sustainable development is achieved. Flood Risk Management The use of nature-based and natural water retention measures should not be forgotten when considering solutions for flood protection and flood alleviation works. Flood risk management, including integrated coastal zone management, helps protect our homes, businesses, lands and supporting infrastructure from flooding. Flood risk management guidelines were prepared in 2009. These require planning authorities to carry out flood risk assessments to help ensure that land use (and associated land use zoning) is compatible with the risk of flooding identified. In 2018, the Office of Public Works published 29 flood risk management plans and 40,000 flood maps for 300 communities as part of the first cycle of flood risk management planning required under the EU Floods Directive (2007/60/EC). These plans will help inform how and where our settlements develop into the future. Work is progressing on the second cycle of flood risk mapping. This will cover areas not previously assessed, including agricultural lands. There are many environmental challenges when it comes to constructing flood alleviation works and relief schemes, especially where extensive engineering works are required. If not carefully planned, implemented and monitored, there is the potential for significant negative environmental 117